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Benm2
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 05, 2009 - 11:31 am: | 
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Mladin may have been fast, but he trash-talked all of his competition (machine & man alike). I believe he represents almost a master definition of "unsportsmanlike conduct", even if his digs & jabs aren't as outright wild as Ludington's.
I assume in retirement, we'll get more of the same, but in a slightly different context: "If I were still racing I'd kick all your asses".
IMHO: don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out! |
Liquorwhere
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 05, 2009 - 05:18 pm: |
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Blu,
Another post of great points to discuss.
I at first was elated when DMG acquired the series thinking that the money and advertising contacts that they had could really promote the sport and bring it into the future. The series was on life support and that is no exageration. I cheered where I heard them state liter bikes would be running the 200 again....that was my last cheer for DMG unfortunately.
I understand the growing pains, but I would like to point out how well Allysports operates the outdoor national races. Plenty of experience there to draw from, a road map if you will. It makes me wonder if the "change" promised isn't really more of the same....I haven't been impressed so far.
DSB, well just about any manufacturer would've taken advantage of their bike being homologated as Aprilia and Buell have...and KTM I believe...if the GSXR 750 were allowed, you can be your sweet ass they would be running it...so I have no problem with Buell running in the series, I have a personal belief that the 1125R should have always been in the Superbike Class, it is a fine motorcycle, and IMHO it may have hurt the image to have it in that series. I know other's disagree and that is fine.
I cannot get my head around the lack of investment, admittedly by Roger E in his interview, in the riders. They are the stars, they risk and train yet he claims them to be short term players. I think Kevin Schwantz has been contributing to racing for the longterm, it made me scratch my head and wonder a bit, but with the "teams" owning the number, ala nascar, and the "teams" moving toward base sponsorship and possibly partnership with nascar teams, ala Joe Gibbs Racing, I see them trying to NasBike the deal, rolling starts, safety cars or bikes, phantom yellows at Daytona when Josh Hayes was sprinting away, completely manipulating the rules as they go depending on the outcome they want and the emphasis on the "show" as Ludington referred to as opposed to developing good homegrown riders, grooming stars, and creating a competitive series that lures world class competitors to the US, like back in the good old days when purses and crowds were bigger here than europe, smacks of a series that is slow, pro wrestlingish, NASCAR or Monster Truck like feel that de-emphasizes the rider and the race and instead makes the BRAND of DMG the deal.
OK...rant over...great points Blu, great points.
BenM2, even if he is a prick, and I sort of believe he is a knobby bastard, his accomplishments speak for themselves, he is extremely talented, and in the end if Spies wins WSBK and makes us all proud like Colin or Nicky did, it would be fair to say his abilities did a great deal of development for that Championship for Ben...IMHO of course. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 05, 2009 - 07:06 pm: |
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Remember: Nicky jumped to MotoGP after besting Mladin in AMA Superbike too. And he went on to win the World Championship in 2006!
Once you've beaten Mat, you've pretty much beaten the best there is. |
Doerman
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 05, 2009 - 07:11 pm: |
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Mat --> The McEnroe of Motorcycle racing. Great talent, but high maintenance. |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 05, 2009 - 08:55 pm: |
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"I cannot get my head around the lack of investment, admittedly by Roger E in his interview, in the riders. "
The purse increased significantly when DMG took over. I agree, it needs to increase more, but that will be tied to increasing revenue I'm sure. I don't understand how some folks are so eager to count them out already. We're just part of one race season into the deal. This stuff takes time. |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 05, 2009 - 08:57 pm: |
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They've already ditched the pace car and hopefully they'll ditch the running starts too. But Superbike is still standing starts, so what's the big deal, a team owns the number? Who cares? |
Liquorwhere
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 05, 2009 - 09:34 pm: |
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a team owns the number? Who cares?
It takes away the identification with the rider and fans, even Valentino kept his number even after he won the title(s), it puts more emphasis on the team and the sanctioning body thereby taking away from the individual rider, ala NASCAR. Look at how the teams have shuttled drivers in and out and the marketing stays with the car and the team. It is a small peeve of mine admittedly, but many riders choose their numbers out of some significance to them, and they should stay with the rider. My number on my bike for FTR racing is 196, the month and year I got out of the Army, were I a pro, I would want to keep my number if I were to migrate to another team. I think DMG will use these types of rules to NasBike the series, and I know it is only one season in and it is not done, and Blake I understand you are a supporter of what DMG is doing, so I would be pointing out things that bother me, and may bother others, but not you. That is cool, opinions and all.....
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Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 05, 2009 - 10:38 pm: |
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Well, it would be up to the team if they wanted to keep a number or let the rider take it with him. How many teams are going to steel a champion's number? |
Liquorwhere
| | Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2009 - 08:26 am: |
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How many teams are going to steel a champion's number?
I don't know that any teams would take a champions number, the point is they could.... |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2009 - 08:54 am: |
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Mat Mladin is our (U.S.) version of Max Biaggi, though "Mad Max" seems to have settled down in WSBK these days. |
46champ
| | Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2009 - 09:58 am: |
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Blake the DSB field is almost big enough that they will never be able to go back to a straight up standing start. Before the rolling starts at Daytona they had to send the field off in waves if you qualified 60th what is the difference. |
46champ
| | Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2009 - 10:22 am: |
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Who wants to bet that Maladin doesn't race at the last race of the season. He is 104 points ahead of Larry Pegram all he has to do is get 21 points in virginia and the title is his. Then he can go out in a blaze of glory bitching about the AMA at the last race of the season. Yes I know Tommy Hayden has more points than Larry he will not be a factor except as a blocker. |
Buell2001b
| | Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2009 - 10:24 am: |
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I will bet that a DSB top rider would do better in MotoGP then American Sport Bike rider. any one lese thinks that! |
Buell2001b
| | Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2009 - 10:28 am: |
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46 champ I agree with you, but becuase the track is reasonable new and Mat does not seem to like tracks where he knows them by heart.
If he does good for him it will show he is a professional, if not it ill show he is imature and with that attitude he will not succeed as a businessman as he says he wnat to atack after this year.
This is why Rossi is so loved no matter who he races for, the guy has a good heart and incredebly friendly, but that could be also becuase he is Italian. |
Jimidan
| | Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2009 - 11:47 am: |
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They've already ditched the pace car and hopefully they'll ditch the running starts too. But Superbike is still standing starts, so what's the big deal, a team owns the number? Who cares?"
Good points, Blake. But I have grown to like the running starts for the DSB class. It makes it that much more unique, and the racing this year has been beyond reproach. It just doesn't get much better than this.
I can't wait to watch some more! See you guys at VIR. I will be riding my Buell S2 to the track from KY, and camping there on site. I will be the old bald guy with gray beard...you can't miss me.
(Message edited by jimidan on August 07, 2009) |
Crusty
| | Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2009 - 06:16 pm: |
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I like the rolling starts much better than standing starts. I think they're both safer for the riders and easier on the bikes. They also haven't diminished the quality of the racing in DSB one bit. I only see advantages in the rolling starts. What are the negatives? |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2009 - 09:57 pm: |
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I just like the opening drag race, lots of drama there and an entirely unique skill-set on display. Being able to launch well and with short reaction time is a neat thing to behold. |
Fresnobuell
| | Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2009 - 10:11 pm: |
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I would like to see the standing starts as well. I wonder if the size of the DSB field has anything to do with the choice to keep the rolling starts around. There's close to 50 bikes an given race, which is pretty awesome. |
Paint_shaker
| | Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2009 - 11:02 pm: |
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My thoughts and opinions, yours may vary.
No doubt Mladin he has skill on a bike. But from the sounds of it, he needs to improve his people skill.
Unless I am mistaken, DMG was going to allow 750s in DSB, but the I-4 crowd chose 600s?
As for the 1125, It does seem a bit odd that an 1125r runs DSB and an 1125rr runs DSBK. I would rather have seen Buell put out a 900cc or so version for DSB and run the 1125 exclusively in DSBK. I believe the average joe could more easily grasp what is going on that way.
As for the number being with the rider, I agree with Liquorwhere. I chose my race number for personal reasons and will do everything I can to keep it while I am racing.
As for the standing start, I agree with Blake. Having raced, I like the standing starts. It adds one more dimension and skill set the rider must have. There is nothing quite like being on a grid full of riders, grabbing a handful of throttle (while trying to keep the front end down) and going balls out into the first corner!! If DSB had standing starts, it is would be more incentive to qualify up front, so as to not be stuck in the back or in a 2nd wave start.
If there are too many riders on the grid, behaps they could go to a 2 heat/ main event format. Only X number of riders would transfer from either heat to the main. The heats could be sprint races, with the main race being longer. |
46champ
| | Posted on Friday, August 07, 2009 - 01:31 am: |
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The heat races and a main would be nice but didn't they shorten the races to 50 miles so all the bikes could race without putting on bigger tanks? |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Friday, August 07, 2009 - 08:43 am: |
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One thing I LIKE about Mladin is his refreshing honesty. You never have to wonder what's on his mind. In these days of "Political Correctness," Mat is a breath of fresh air.
He'll speak out against the "Powers that Be" because the young guns are too afraid to do so themselves. The sport will DEFINITELY lose something when everyone is a "Yes Sir, No Sir" drone... |
Doerman
| | Posted on Friday, August 07, 2009 - 10:17 am: |
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"Yes Sir, No Sir" drone...
I don't think the rest of the racers would take kindly to your comment. Just because Mat is heads and shoulders above in the "loudmouth bore" department does not make rest of them drones, today or in the future.
Remember Larry Pegram last weekend when interviewed about Mat and the track safety? He certainly didn't spare any comment.
Rebels against the establishment aren't always right. |
Liquorwhere
| | Posted on Friday, August 07, 2009 - 11:18 am: |
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As for the number being with the rider, I agree with Liquorwhere.
You trying to give me a heartattack or something?? Warn me before you start agreeing with me...almost had an "I'm coming Ethel" moment...
I just like the opening drag race, lots of drama there and an entirely unique skill-set on display. Being able to launch well and with short reaction time is a neat thing to behold.
There is nothing quite like being on a grid full of riders, grabbing a handful of throttle (while trying to keep the front end down) and going balls out into the first corner!!
Well put and I am in total agreement on this one!!!!
As for the 1125, It does seem a bit odd that an 1125r runs DSB and an 1125rr runs DSBK. I would rather have seen Buell put out a 900cc or so version for DSB and run the 1125 exclusively in DSBK. I believe the average joe could more easily grasp what is going on that way.
I would suspect that even Buell would have preferred that, costs are costs, and while I don't agree with it, I understand why...I think only kawi and Suzuki still make a 750cc I-4, the rest are 600's, I could be wrong there, but that may figure into why the industry chose 600's. Plus price point may be an issue.....
Rebels against the establishment aren't always right.
No they aren't, but they are entertaining, and sometimes even when they are wrong on a particular subject, the light they shine out ends up improving things for everyone...Mladin may be a knobby bastard, but I gotta respect his frankness when put to a question, there is no email it to me and I will get back to you in a couple of days going on with this guy....
I think another real problem, as I read on Roadracing world and was unaware of until then, is the tire situation in supersport, if indeed it is the case that they are making the age restricted riders use the hardest compounds out there, or I should say the least desirable for the circuit in an attempt to "teach" them to ride around a bad tire, I believe on 600cc bikes that is a real concern. If this were 450cc thumpers or converted dirt bikes, maybe, but still, it is a professional race and they should have the best equipment available, they still hit high speeds, age restricted or not......
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Jaimec
| | Posted on Friday, August 07, 2009 - 04:53 pm: |
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http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/1/233/2/Motorcycle-B log-Post/Mladin-Will-Be-Missed%E2%80%A6-By-Some.as px |
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